Cyclone Remal Updates: Flight Operations Suspended in Kolkata as Severe Cyclone Approaches Bengal Coast

In view of Cyclone Remal’s impending impact on the coastal regions of West Bengal, including Kolkata, flight operations will be suspended starting from Sunday midnight, the Kolkata airport authorities announced. The suspension will last from 12:00 AM IST on May 26, 2024, to 9:00 AM IST on May 27, 2024, due to the forecast of heavy winds and significant rainfall.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a severe cyclone warning on Saturday, anticipating Cyclone Remal’s landfall in West Bengal on Sunday. The cyclone is expected to bring extremely heavy rainfall and strong winds to the coastal regions of Bangladesh and West Bengal on May 26.

Initially detected as a low-pressure system in the Bay of Bengal on May 22, the system has since intensified into a significant depression, now positioned in the central Bay of Bengal. The IMD forecasts that it will further develop into a cyclone and advance towards northeastern India by the morning of May 25.

According to the IMD, along with West Bengal, other northeastern states such as Tripura, Assam, Nagaland, and Manipur may experience rainfall and strong winds. Tripura’s regional meteorological center has also issued a warning for adverse weather conditions starting from May 26. Cyclone Remal has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm and is expected to make landfall between West Bengal’s Sagar Island and Bangladesh’s Khepupara on Sunday night, the IMD reported.

This marks the first cyclone in the Bay of Bengal for the pre-monsoon season. As of 8 AM on Sunday, Cyclone Remal was centered approximately 290 km south-southeast of Khepupara and 270 km south-southeast of Sagar Island. The IMD update noted that the deep depression over the Bay of Bengal intensified into a cyclonic storm named Remal on Saturday evening and is likely to turn severe before making landfall by Sunday midnight.

Authorities have placed North and South 24 Parganas, Purba Medinipur, Howrah, and Hooghly districts in West Bengal under red alert. These areas are expected to face extremely heavy rainfall, with accumulations over 204 mm in 24 hours, and gusty winds. The Met department also warned of heavy rain and gusty winds over northern Odisha and Bengal until the early hours of Monday.

The IMD predicts that Cyclone Remal will continue to move northwards, intensifying into a severe cyclone by Sunday morning. It is expected to cross the Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coasts between Sagar Island and Khepupara by Sunday midnight as a severe cyclonic storm, with wind speeds ranging from 110 to 120 km/hr, gusting up to 135 km/hr.

Residents in the affected regions are advised to take necessary precautions and stay updated with the latest advisories from local authorities and the IMD. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is on high alert and prepared to respond to any emergencies arising from the cyclone’s impact.